JD Vance Knows the Iran War Is a Disaster—But Can’t Say It (w/ Tom Nichols) | The Bulwark Podcast

The Trump administration is preparing to deploy a Marine expeditionary unit to the Middle East along with more warships. But that development was not Hegseth’s highest priority at his Pentagon briefing. His first order of business was attacking the media—even before mentioning the six fallen service members who were killed in a plane crash supporting the war in Iran. And while the administration may have finally narrowed down its reasons for launching the war alongside Israel, it hasn’t discussed the risks of the operation, or why it doesn’t seem to have an issue with Putin helping Iran in the fight. Plus, JD is skeptical about the war but won’t tell Trump to his face, oil prices are soaring while Russia cashes in, and don’t forget that the Department of Homeland Security is still down shut down while our country is at war. Tom Nichols joins Tim Miller for the weekend pod. Go to https://QUINCE.COM/THEBULWARK for free shipping and 365-day returns Now’s the perfect time to plant—let’s grow together. Bulwark fans get 20% OFF their first purchase at https://FastGrowingTrees.com! Be sure to use the code THEBULWARK at checkout. Show Notes: Tom on 'victory disease' in The Atlantic: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/03/iran-strategy-victory-disease/686275/?gift=AO0MhSsTDaHgiP_RxFGfB7IHVjq8arDIUkbsAIchSbk French news channel with a split screen of bombs and Trump dancing: https://x.com/WUTangKids/status/2032290693461287177?s=20 Tim's playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0dApY6YT48kTh6j9xFDQch Tickets for our LIVE show in Austin on March 19: https://TheBulwark.com/Event Chapters: 00:00:00 Intro 00:00:56 War headlines: casualties, oil, munitions 00:01:54 Trump’s “surrender” paradox 00:04:33 KC-135 crash and the human cost 00:10:44 Russia, oil markets, and blowback 00:16:09 Ad break: Quince 00:17:33 “Victory disease” and Trump’s mindset 00:22:45 JD Vance on background + internal dissent 00:27:54 Ad break: Fast Growing Trees 00:33:29 Hegseth vs the press + Hormuz 00:45:27 Gulf states, terror threats, and DHS shutdown